Modul University Vienna (MU Vienna) is a private university established in 2007 in Vienna, Austria, that focuses on social and economic development. In particular, it focuses on the areas of tourism, new media information technology, sustainability, business management, and public governance.
History
Foundation and vision MU Vienna was founded by the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Saudi-Austrian businessman Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, and built with the support of the City of Vienna and the Vienna Tourist Board. The founders aimed to offer students internationally-oriented, hands-on studies in the areas of tourism research, information technology, and public administration by making use of the active role of Vienna in European city tourism. Karl Wöber, who had previously taught at the Vienna University of Economics and Business in the field of tourism, was appointed founding president.
The university was conceived and named Modul University Vienna by employees of the Modul Tourism College, a tertiary education school for hotel management and gastronomy also founded by the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1908.
The name Modul comes from the honeycomb structure of the Modul Tourism College, in which both the school and the adjacent hotel of the same name consist of octagonal, connected modules. The school and hotel are located in the 19th district (Döbling) and were designed and built between 1973 and 1975. Attending the Modul Tourism College is not a prerequisite for admission to MU Vienna.
In 2012, the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry assumed sole ownership of MU Vienna. Within the first ten years, the university accredited three bachelor's degrees and four master's programs, and in 2012, a PhD program was also accredited.
Since January 2013, MU Vienna has been a member of the European Universities Consortium (EUC), a group of higher education institutions that promotes English-taught bachelor's programs in Europe. MU Vienna has both an international focus on teaching and research and is internationally located campuses. Study programs have been offered in Vienna, and in Nanjing (PR China) since 2017.
MU Vienna bases its research priorities on the principles of sustainability, economics, and innovation. The foreground maintains the overriding goal of creating benefits for society.The scientific disciplines represented at MU Vienna are guided by these principles, which are also included as integral components in the university’s study programs.
The university offers an integrated academic education, “an interweaving of decision-making competencies, based on a combination of methodical problem-solving and social learning”. The inclusionand promotion of the following educational values was decided by the University Senate on 16 January 2012:
Knowledge, creativity and innovation: “Challenge what society takes for granted and embrace change” Personal integrity: “Support the principles of equality and justice” Mutual respect: “Value diversity and humanity” Responsibility and stewardship: “Serve as ambassadors of sustainable and responsible living”.
These values are displayed on the façade of the university building in the world’s 12 most frequently spoken languages.
In 2015, MU Vienna founded Modul University Technology GmbH, a research and development spin-off with focus on multimedia applications, interactive TV, and automated knowledge extraction processes.
In 2020, the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry sold 90 per cent of its shares in MU Vienna to the British entrepreneur Suresh Sivagnanam (*1970), founder of doc, an online medical advice and care platform.
Accreditation The Austrian Accreditation Council accredited MU Vienna on July 39, 2007, and the university started operating in September–November 2007. In 2014, the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria reaccredited MU Vienna. The Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria was founded on March 1, 2011, based on the University Quality Assurance Act (HS-QSG) as part of a fundamental redesign of Austria’s system of external quality assurance.
Since 2012, MU Vienna’s tourism study programs have been certified under the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’s TedQual scheme.
Sustainability Sustainability is an essential component of MU Vienna’s educational content and research agenda. The university has also implemented several measures in its day-to-day operations to minimize impacts on the environment. These include a solar energy system, a pellet heating system, and a waste management system, as well as measures to promote a sustainable way of thinking and living among its students and staff. A Sustainability Committee, appointed by the University Senate, aims to promote sustainability by communicating regularly with students, staff, suppliers, and partners about its goals and activities .
University bodies As laid down in the University's Constitution, Modul University is governed by three main bodies: The University Council, The University Senate and the University Board. The university is managed by a collegial body consisting of the rector, the vice-rector, and the managing director. The University Council is the strategic steering body of Modul University Vienna and consists of four representatives of the owners, two representatives of the industry, and two representatives of other universities. The University Senate consists of 20 members and facilitates the academic self-governance of MUV. The University is managed by the University Board, consisting of the President, the Executive Vice-President, and the University Director.
Academic Departments & Schools Modul University Vienna consists of five scientific departments (schools) and two research institutes:
School of Sustainability, Governance, and Methods (Head: Prof. Sabine Sedlacek) School of Tourism and Service Management (Head: Prof. Astrid Dickinger) School of International Management (Head: Prof. Horst Treiblmaier) School of International Relations (Head: Prof. Doug Stokes) School of Applied Data Science (Head: Prof. Ingo Frommholz) Research Institute for New Media Technology (Head: Prof. Arno Scharl) Vienna Institute for Global Studies (VIGS, Head: Prof. Dr. Zoltan Acs) The Vienna Institute for Global Studies (VIGS) is a research institute at Modul University Vienna, established in 2024 by Professor Dr. Zoltan Acs. It operates as an independent center with research areas including entrepreneurial ecosystems, international relations and geopolitics, and well-being and health. In addition to academic research, the institute recently introduced the Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (DEE) Index and published the first report focusing on the Danube Region.
Study programs Modul University Vienna offers Foundation, BA, BBA, BSc, CE, MSc, MBA, and PhD study programs in the fields of business, data science, tourism, international relations and sustainability. All study programs are offered exclusively in English. In addition to the core subjects, specializations and elective subjects provide the opportunity to specialize in different areas of expertise. The range of offered courses includes the following study programs:
Foundation Programs
Foundation Program Business Foundation Program Tech
Bachelor Programs
BA in International Relations and Sustainability BBA in Tourism, Hotel Management and Operations BBA in Tourism, Hotel Management and Operations – New York Extension BBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management BBA / BSc in Tourism and Hospitality Management – 2+2 year Mobility Agreement with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University BSc in Human Resources Management - Newly Accredited BSc in International Management BSc in International Management with Professional Experience BSc in Applied Data Science
Both Bachelor of Science in International Management programs offer the following specializations: Entrepreneurship and Leadership, International Marketing, and International Management.
The Bachelor of Business Administration offers the following specializations: Tourism and Event Management, and Hotel Management.
Master Programs
MSc in Management MSc in International Tourism Management MSc in Sustainable Development, Management and Policy MSc in Data Science for Sustainability
All Master of Science programs offer the following specializations: Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership, Innovation and Experience Design for Tourism, Real Estate Management, Sustainable Management and Policy, and Tourism and Services Management.
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
The Master of Business Administration offers the following specializations: Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership, Innovation and Experience Design for Tourism, Real Estate Management, and Sustainable Management and Policy.
PHD Programs Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business and Socioeconomic Sciences
At the Nanjing campus:
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
All study programs are offered exclusively in English. Modul University Vienna maintains exchange programs for its students with 21 partner universities worldwide.
Research
Modul University Vienna is characterized by a high level of commitment to basic and applied research. The research topics are in the fields of economics, social sciences, and information science and deal with both current and future-oriented research questions. The research-led teaching approach of Modul University Vienna is reflected in the discussion of current research projects in teaching and the active involvement of students in research projects. In addition, Modul University Vienna is dedicated to supporting young researchers, especially since the accreditation of the doctoral program in business and socioeconomic sciences in 2012. From 2007 to 2017, the Modul University Vienna faculty has published 670 scientific articles and 600 conference contributions, as well as completed 68 national and international research projects.
In 2015, Modul University Vienna founded Modul University Technology GmbH, an R&D spin-off with a research focus on multimedia applications, interactive TV, and automated knowledge extraction processes.
Research focus of the faculty:
Analysis of large amounts of data (Big Data), knowledge extraction, and information diffusion Environmental communication with a focus on climate change Energy financing and system prices Digital Marketing Sustainable finances, fund management, and asset pricing Impact of blockchain / distributed ledger technology Sustainable tourism and regional development policy Governance for innovation and sustainable development Education for sustainable development Measuring living conditions and quality of life Degrowth Methods for analyzing empirical data Analysis of travel flows and leisure behaviour Development and evaluation of information and decision support systems Innovation and Design Thinking Market research and analysis of consumer behaviour